LL-37 vs PNC-27
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
- Summary
- LL-37 is the only known human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide. It kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses by disrupting their membranes, while simultaneously modulating immune responses. Used for antimicrobial protection, immune priming, and wound healing.
- PNC-27 is a synthetic peptide derived from the p53 tumor suppressor protein, containing both an HDM2-binding domain and a transmembrane penetratin sequence. It selectively kills cancer cells by binding MDM2/HDM2 overexpressed on the plasma membrane of malignant cells, inducing membranolysis without harming normal cells.
- Half-Life
- Very short (~1–2 hours) in plasma due to protease degradation; topical use bypasses systemic clearance
- Not well established; estimated minutes to hours
- Admin Route
- SubQ, Topical, Intranasal
- Intravenous (research), Intraperitoneal (research)
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 100–300 mcg
- Not established for humans; research doses vary by cell line and model
- Frequency
- 2–3x per week
- Not established for human use
- Key Benefits
- Broad-spectrum antimicrobial (bacteria, fungi, viruses)
- Promotes wound healing and angiogenesis
- Immune system modulation — enhances innate immunity
- Reduces LPS-mediated endotoxemia
- Anti-biofilm activity against resistant organisms
- Promotes tissue regeneration and keratinocyte migration
- May protect against sepsis
- Selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells overexpressing HDM2/MDM2
- Spares normal cells lacking surface HDM2 expression
- Membranolytic mechanism bypasses intracellular resistance pathways
- Demonstrated activity against breast, pancreatic, leukemia, and melanoma cell lines
- Potential for combination with conventional chemotherapy
- Novel non-genotoxic anticancer mechanism
- Side Effects
- Injection site redness and irritation
- Mild inflammatory response at injection site
- Potential pro-inflammatory at high doses
- Rare: fever or flu-like symptoms at initiation
- Limited human clinical data; largely in vitro and animal studies
- Potential immunogenic reactions (foreign peptide)
- Systemic toxicity at high doses not well characterized
- Unknown interactions with current chemotherapy agents
- Stacks With
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